Lightning-Driven Plasma Bubbles Provide Prebiotic Synthesis and Biogeochemical Cycling

Abstract

Lightning-sea interactions generate plasma bubbles that act as electrochemical reactors, producing amino acids, nucleobases, and peptides with yields 100-300% higher than spark discharges. This process accelerates carbon-nitrogen coupling and enhances biogeochemical cycling, linking CO2 and NH3 to bioavailable organic compounds.